A look at criminal cases coming this year

Published: Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 6:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 6:48 p.m.

In the spirit of year-end lists, here’s one that looks ahead to the 2012 criminal docket.

NICHOLAS RAGOSTA: A U.S. District Court jury in Orlando couldn’t come to a consensus in the case of the former Marion County sheriff’s deputy in mid-December. A new jury will hear the case in U.S. District Court in Ocala starting Tuesday. Ragosta is charged with conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and using and carrying a firearm while drug trafficking.

BABCOCK MURDER: The State Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty for Zachary Snyder, who is charged with the 2009 premeditated murder of 66-year-old Doris Babcock, of Dunnellon.

Babcock’s body was found in a burn pit behind her home. Babcock had apparently taken Synder, now 21, into her home a few years ago to prevent him from going into foster care. His next scheduled court date is Wednesday.

MURDERS AND ARSON: In another death penalty case, James Edward Bannister Sr. is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the August 2011 deaths of CorDarrian Hill, 8; his sister, 6-year-old CorDerica Hill; Bridget Gray, 52; and her daughter, Jocalyn Gray, 27.

Bannister is also charged with arson of a dwelling after he allegedly shot and killed the victims and then set the Ocala home in which they were found on fire. His next hearing is set for Jan. 23.

HEAD TRAUMA TO BABY: Rishi Ramgoolie, now 26, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his 5½-month-old cousin, Sanjana Muthra, in January 2008. According to an autopsy report, the baby had multiple skull fractures to her head that indicated she had been struck more than once. Ramgoolie had been taking care of the child and told investigators multiple stories about how the child suffered the injuries. Jury selection for his trial is scheduled for Jan. 23.

SEATH JACKSON MURDER: Three co-defendants in the case have hearings scheduled for Jan. 25. Kyle Hooper, 17, Amber Wright, 15, and Justin Soto, 20, are all charged with first-degree murder.

Ely was sentenced to life in prison without parole in October. Bargo, the alleged ringleader, has a court date scheduled for Feb. 6. The State Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty.

James Young Havens III, 38, was charged with accessory after the fact. A competency hearing will be set sometime in 2012.

FLORIDA HIGHLANDS MURDER: James Theral Carlton, 64, was arrested in March and charged with the murder of 41-year-old Michael Wayne Nichols. Cartlon allegedly lured Nichols to the backyard of a home in the Florida Highlands, shot him multiple times and then buried his body in a vacant lot near the residence. Carlton faces up to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm, second-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. His next court date is Jan. 31.

2007 CENTRACCO MURDER: The State Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty for Michael Lamar Woods, 29, who allegedly shot and killed Toni Centracco, 20, after the victim caught him stealing marijuana from her boyfriend’s Ocala home in August 2007.

Authorities also have charged Woods with the 2010 murders of that boyfriend, Marshall Pardee, 23, and his new girlfriend, Chyavana Hampton, 20.

His next court is scheduled for Feb. 3.

DEATH OF EX-BELLEVIEW HIGH RUNNING BACK: Roderick Mitchell, 19, is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm in the January 2011 death of former Belleview High School running back Daniel Davis Jr., 24.

Davis and Mitchell were allegedly in a dispute outside Gracie’s Lounge, and Mitchell is accused of shooting the victim. Mitchell’s next court date is Feb. 9.

SERIAL RAPIST: Michael Frye, 37, was arrested in October and charged with raping four women in Marion County. Frye is accused in another case in Alachua County. The rapes occurred between July 5 and Oct. 12.

Frye’s next court is scheduled for March 9.

HEATHER STRONG MURDER CASE: Joshua Fulgham, 30, faces the death penalty. He and his then girlfriend, Emilia Carr, 27, allegedly kidnapped his wife, Heather Strong, 26, and suffocated her in a trailer and then buried her in shallow grave nearby.

Carr was sentenced to death in February for the same charges. Jury selection for Fulgham’s trial begins April 2.

Contact Vishal Persaud at 867-4065 or vishal.persaud@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vishalpersaud.

<p>In the spirit of year-end lists, here's one that looks ahead to the 2012 criminal docket.</p><p><b>NICHOLAS RAGOSTA:</b> A U.S. District Court jury in Orlando couldn't come to a consensus in the case of the former Marion County sheriff's deputy in mid-December. A new jury will hear the case in U.S. District Court in Ocala starting Tuesday. Ragosta is charged with conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and using and carrying a firearm while drug trafficking.</p><p><b>BABCOCK MURDER:</b> The State Attorney's Office is seeking the death penalty for Zachary Snyder, who is charged with the 2009 premeditated murder of 66-year-old Doris Babcock, of Dunnellon.</p><p>Babcock's body was found in a burn pit behind her home. Babcock had apparently taken Synder, now 21, into her home a few years ago to prevent him from going into foster care. His next scheduled court date is Wednesday.</p><p><b>MURDERS AND ARSON:</b> In another death penalty case, James Edward Bannister Sr. is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the August 2011 deaths of CorDarrian Hill, 8; his sister, 6-year-old CorDerica Hill; Bridget Gray, 52; and her daughter, Jocalyn Gray, 27.</p><p>Bannister is also charged with arson of a dwelling after he allegedly shot and killed the victims and then set the Ocala home in which they were found on fire. His next hearing is set for Jan. 23.</p><p><b>HEAD TRAUMA TO BABY:</b> Rishi Ramgoolie, now 26, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his 5½-month-old cousin, Sanjana Muthra, in January 2008. According to an autopsy report, the baby had multiple skull fractures to her head that indicated she had been struck more than once. Ramgoolie had been taking care of the child and told investigators multiple stories about how the child suffered the injuries. Jury selection for his trial is scheduled for Jan. 23.</p><p><b>SEATH JACKSON MURDER:</b> Three co-defendants in the case have hearings scheduled for Jan. 25. Kyle Hooper, 17, Amber Wright, 15, and Justin Soto, 20, are all charged with first-degree murder.</p><p>Hooper and Soto allegedly beat and held Jackson while Michael Shane Bargo, 19, shot the teenager. Wright and another co-defendant, Charlie Kay Ely, 19, lured Jackson to the murder scene: Ely's house.</p><p>Ely was sentenced to life in prison without parole in October. Bargo, the alleged ringleader, has a court date scheduled for Feb. 6. The State Attorney's Office is seeking the death penalty.</p><p>James Young Havens III, 38, was charged with accessory after the fact. A competency hearing will be set sometime in 2012.</p><p><b>FLORIDA HIGHLANDS MURDER:</b> James Theral Carlton, 64, was arrested in March and charged with the murder of 41-year-old Michael Wayne Nichols. Cartlon allegedly lured Nichols to the backyard of a home in the Florida Highlands, shot him multiple times and then buried his body in a vacant lot near the residence. Carlton faces up to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm, second-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. His next court date is Jan. 31.</p><p><b>2007 CENTRACCO MURDER:</b> The State Attorney's Office is seeking the death penalty for Michael Lamar Woods, 29, who allegedly shot and killed Toni Centracco, 20, after the victim caught him stealing marijuana from her boyfriend's Ocala home in August 2007.</p><p>Authorities also have charged Woods with the 2010 murders of that boyfriend, Marshall Pardee, 23, and his new girlfriend, Chyavana Hampton, 20.</p><p>His next court is scheduled for Feb. 3.</p><p><b>DEATH OF EX-BELLEVIEW HIGH RUNNING BACK:</b> Roderick Mitchell, 19, is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm in the January 2011 death of former Belleview High School running back Daniel Davis Jr., 24.</p><p>Davis and Mitchell were allegedly in a dispute outside Gracie's Lounge, and Mitchell is accused of shooting the victim. Mitchell's next court date is Feb. 9.</p><p><b>SERIAL RAPIST:</b> Michael Frye, 37, was arrested in October and charged with raping four women in Marion County. Frye is accused in another case in Alachua County. The rapes occurred between July 5 and Oct. 12.</p><p>Frye's next court is scheduled for March 9.</p><p><b>HEATHER STRONG MURDER CASE:</b> Joshua Fulgham, 30, faces the death penalty. He and his then girlfriend, Emilia Carr, 27, allegedly kidnapped his wife, Heather Strong, 26, and suffocated her in a trailer and then buried her in shallow grave nearby.</p><p>Carr was sentenced to death in February for the same charges. Jury selection for Fulgham's trial begins April 2.</p><p><i>Contact Vishal Persaud at 867-4065 or vishal.persaud@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vishalpersaud.</i></p>